The hottest Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

The Cleavage and Technologization of Knowing

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🚌 Education Philosophy Literature History Science Technology
  1. Specialization of labor and the rise of a literate elite led to a cleavage of knowledge across societies, with information monopolies and limited access to learning.
  2. The printing press and now the internet have transformed how we handle information, shifting towards automated thinking but potentially limiting deep understanding and critical thinking.
  3. Progress in human intelligence and virtue through technology has been a long debate, as greater access to information doesn't necessarily equate to greater wisdom or reason.

Overdrawn at the Memory Bank

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Film Technology Society History Science
  1. The movie 'Overdrawn at the Memory Bank' showcases a blend of ambition and incomprehension in its attempt to imagine a futuristic world, highlighting a theme of technological advancement outpacing individual understanding.
  2. Specialization in modern society has led to increased complexity and automation, resulting in individuals having limited understanding of the technology that surrounds them.
  3. The advancement of high technology has ironically led to a decrease in general technical knowledge among the populace, making society more ritualistic in its approach to technology and the world.

Links for 2024-01-30

Axis of Ordinary • 58 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Science
  1. Large language models can understand the words they process
  2. New models like Eagle 7B and Meta are advancing AI capabilities
  3. Research in science and technology is achieving breakthroughs in fields like 3D printing and energy harvesting

The human x-ray scientists

The Quack Doctor • 9 HN points • 12 Jul 24
💾 History Medicine Fraud Treatment Health Science
  1. Albert and William Grant claimed extraordinary abilities as 'Human X-Ray' scientists, including diagnosing diseases and growing new internal organs.
  2. Despite their claims, the brothers faced scrutiny and criticism after several deaths occurred under their unconventional treatments.
  3. The story sheds light on the desperation of patients seeking hope where traditional medicine offered little to no cure, showcasing the vulnerability and trust of those in the face of incurable diseases.
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Announcing my new podcast: The Studies Show

Science Fictions • 248 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
🎙 Podcasts Science Health Education
  1. The podcast "The Studies Show" discusses controversial scientific topics weekly with an English/Scottish accent combo.
  2. Episodes include topics like Aspartame, Psychedelics, Breastfeeding, and Vaping, among others.
  3. Listeners can subscribe for free on the podcast's Substack page and access episodes on various platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The Nose Knows

Weekly Wisdom • 159 implied HN points • 08 Dec 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Breathwork Science Techniques Physiology Mind-Body Connection
  1. Breathwork is essential since the breath is a constant companion, affecting both body and mind.
  2. Various breathing techniques can be used for specific effects like calming the nervous system, increasing alertness, or improving oxygen absorption.
  3. Understanding the different elements of breathing, such as nostrils, lungs, and techniques like Breath of Fire, can lead to improved well-being and mind-body connection.

The Notebook of Leonardo da Vinci, The Codex Arundel

Axial • 14 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Renaissance Science Technology History
  1. The Codex Arundel is a collection of Leonardo da Vinci's writings and drawings, showing his wide-ranging interests in math, engineering, and nature. It's written in a special left-handed mirror script, which makes it unique.
  2. Leonardo's work in the codex emphasizes observation and experimentation. He wrote about scientific principles through careful study of the natural world and practical experiments.
  3. The codex is important for understanding both art and science, showing how Leonardo blended these fields. It inspires modern thinkers by highlighting the value of connecting different areas of knowledge.

The World's First AI Law + A Manhattan Project for AI Safety?

Navigating AI Risks • 98 implied HN points • 13 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Regulation Research Industry Science
  1. The EU is working on the world's first comprehensive AI regulation, which will impact AI companies globally.
  2. Google AI and Anthropic have released advanced models raising safety concerns about the use of large language models.
  3. A call for a 'Manhattan Project for AI Safety' suggests a need for coordinated research to address AI alignment challenges.

Further Reading

Material World • 164 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🚌 Education Books Science History Research Reading
  1. There is a wide range of reading materials available to delve deeper into the topics discussed in the book.
  2. Various books and resources are recommended for exploring different aspects of material science, such as sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium.
  3. Authors and specific books are highlighted as excellent starting points for those interested in learning more about specific material-related subjects.

Why real environmental action is so hard

Technology, Environment, and Art • 39 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Capitalism Science Consumerism Sustainability
  1. The global capitalistic-consumerist system is fundamentally destructive and promotes unsustainable practices, causing cognitive dissonance in individuals.
  2. Efforts to address environmental issues are often evaluated based on their ability to further global consumerism rather than their actual impact.
  3. To truly make a difference, we need to challenge the current industrial and capitalistic systems, reassess our reliance on technology, and make significant lifestyle changes to prioritize sustainability over convenience.

Is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Choosing Weight Stigma Over Science?

Weight and Healthcare • 359 implied HN points • 23 Feb 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Weight Stigma Science Research Guidelines
  1. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is being criticized for favoring weight stigma over scientific evidence in their guidelines for higher weight individuals.
  2. The guidelines recommend weight loss interventions for higher weight people, emphasizing body size over actual health outcomes.
  3. The guidelines are accused of ignoring research showing the failure of traditional weight loss methods and promoting weight stigma, raising questions about the motives behind these recommendations.

Links for 2024-02-04

Axis of Ordinary • 39 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Science
  1. Neural Networks are advancing towards universal prediction with innovative approaches.
  2. Technology is progressing with 3D-printed human brain tissue, new universal memory candidate, and quantum computing in graphene layers.
  3. Research shows interesting findings in science, like the arms race between bats and moths, the impact of recreational drugs on parasites, and the correlation of brain size with intelligence.

Nicholas Christakis: (Ad-Free video) From Social Networks to AI, Special Thanksgiving Podcast

Critical Mass • 6 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🎙 Podcasts Interviews Philosophy Health Science Culture
  1. Nicholas Christakis is a highly accomplished scholar with a diverse background in social and natural sciences at Yale University. He studies how human networks function and how they can be improved.
  2. His book 'Blueprint' discusses how evolution has helped humans create successful societies characterized by cooperation and love. He also looks at how both culture and genetics influence each other.
  3. The conversation touches on big questions like the nature of good and how artificial intelligence might change our societies. It's clear that there is a lot to learn about social connections, both in humans and animals.

Are All Vacations Evil?

Litverse • 179 implied HN points • 08 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Literature Technology Health & Wellness Science
  1. A vacation allows us to break from our routine and explore different aspects of ourselves.
  2. Escapism through vacations is healthy and necessary to prevent losing touch with our multitudes.
  3. In a modern age dominated by technology, it's essential to disconnect, go on vacation, and pay attention to our present self to avoid the 'Great Smushing' of our identities.

The After-Afterparty

Skunk Ledger • 215 implied HN points • 02 May 23
📚 Literature Fiction Humor Science Philosophy
  1. The protagonist wins a forecasting tournament and celebrates extravagantly with cuddle therapists and predictions.
  2. A confrontation with an archnemesis leads to a discussion on modeling uncertainties and reaching a consensus.
  3. A black swan intervenes to teach the importance of collaboration and addressing assumptions in disagreements.

Lookout to 2024

New World Same Humans • 85 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Blockchain Robotics Geopolitics Science
  1. Generative AI is set to impact the real economy in 2024, with a focus on automating knowledge worker tasks.
  2. 2024 will see a historic year for global democracy, with tensions rising around deepfake technologies in elections.
  3. Mainstream adoption of blockchain technology is expected to reshape societies with decentralization and innovation.

Who Birds Are: How Ornithologist J. Drew Lanham Unites Poetry and Science

Meaning || Matter • 19 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
📚 Literature Poetry Nature Science Philosophy Art
  1. J. Drew Lanham combines poetry and science to deepen our understanding of nature. He believes that science and poetry both come from the same curiosity about the world.
  2. Lanham's poems invite us to feel connected to the animals he studies, showing that there's more to nature than just facts and observations. He encourages us to empathize with nature and see ourselves in it.
  3. He promotes a view of nature as a spiritual experience, where understanding life, death, and renewal can bring comfort and insight. His approach challenges us to engage with the natural world fully.

And now Holden's Substack

Science Forever • 99 implied HN points • 10 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Social media Science Communication
  1. Holden Thorp is building up accounts on alternative platforms to Twitter like Mastodon and Post
  2. He is the Editor-in-Chief of _Science_ and will use his Substack for various interests beyond science like jazz, theater, and sports
  3. Subscribe to Holden's Substack if you enjoy his Tweets for more amusing musings and personal anecdotes

Curator

Castalia • 139 implied HN points • 22 Jan 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Art Criticism Philosophy Religion Science
  1. Literary prizes can distract from an artist's true growth and craft. They often create a focus on external validation rather than personal development in art.
  2. Critics have strayed from their true role, becoming more about filtering works for the public than truly engaging with and interpreting art. Real criticism should be a creative dialogue alongside artists.
  3. Science is not as objective as people think. Its methods and findings can change with cultural beliefs, and it's important to recognize that it operates within a social context just like any other belief system.